Alabama football: Media guide revealed, what to watch for in Hoover

Welcome to The Rammer Jammer, SEC Country’s daily Alabama athletics recap. Today, we look at the first day of SEC Media Days and the first whispers of preseason.

By the time you’re reading this, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will likely have inaugurated the 2017 edition of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., with some well-composed comments about the future of the league, competition across all sports and money.

After Sankey’s laudatory introduction, turn your attention to the likeliest successor to the Spurrier/Miles Endowed Chair of Quotability, when Week 7 opponent Bret Bielema takes the podium. Arkansas has a chance to throw off its “sneaky upset threat” mantle with a strong showing against Alabama this year, and quarterback Austin Allen will be one of the best passers Alabama sees this year. There’s not much to learn about the team itself, but Bielema might call something else ‘borderline erotic,’ so don’t give up hope.

Then comes Week 10 opponent Ed Orgeron and LSU. That’s probably the game of the season for Alabama, again, but you won’t be able to understand a word Coach O says anyway.

Alabama punching bag and human Chicken Soup book Butch Jones rounds out the day with his Tennessee players. Tune in for more platitudes about being ‘champions of life’ and revel in the fact the last time a Tennessee coach came to SEC Media Days with a win over Alabama was Nick Saban’s first.

Until Hugh Freeze shows up and refuses to answer questions about the NCAA investigation, there’s little to look forward to at an SEC Media Days attended by 14 coaches, who are all veterans of the event. The main takeaway from the roster of coaches on lukewarm seats? The conference schools appears resigned to mere respectability until Saban retires.

Built by Bama

Former Alabama star guard Levi Randolph finally got a chance to show out in the NBA Summer League, and impressed with the Timberwolves, scoring 13 points and grabbing 5 boards in 24 minutes to help Minnesota to a 90-71 win over Denver.

Former Alabama golfer Gavin Moynihan posted a 64 on the final day of the Irish Open, finishing as the leading Irishman and tied for 14th overall. The 22-year-old Dubliner’s check of nearly $110,000 beats his combined earnings since turning professional in 2015.

Around the Capstone

Alabama will host the U.S. National Softball Team for a doubleheader at Rhoads Stadium on July 20. The game will pit former Alabama star Haylie McCleney against current Alabama players Alexis Osorio, Reagan Dykes, Bailey Hemphill and Caroline Hardy, along with other college stars.